Interference Research Articles

OPRAVDANOST MIJEŠANJA JAVNE VLASTI U OSTVARIVANJE PRAVA NA SLOBODU IZRAŽAVANJA U PRAVNOJ TEORIJI I SUDSKOJ PRAKSI

The right to freedom of expression is one of the basic foundations of everyone demo- cratic society. However, this right can be subject to restrictions for the protection of other rights and freedoms. It is being worked on, with reference points of view of legal theory and judicial practice, especially the practice of the European Court for human rights and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia, analyzes when interfe- rence in the first on freedom of expression justified, and when not. Introduction show the most important international, regional, European and national legal acts that determine and guarantee freedom of expression. In the central part of the work forms of public authority interference in the right to freedom of expression are investiga- ted and criteria for assessing the justification of interference that have developed in judicial practice. In particular, the need to apply three “tests” during evaluation is highlighted objections to the interference, and the legality of the interference, legiti- mate goals are analyzed which were aimed at and the necessity of mixing in a demo- cratic society. By rating of legal sources and court practice, the author concludes that the courts do not analyze always all the circumstances of the case, that they do not always apply the adopted criteria and principled positions of the European Court of Human Rights and that judges some times have different opinions about when public authority interferes with freedom expressions justified, and when not, and someti- mes apply conflicting principled positions of the European Court of Human Rights in the same legal matter, or apply positions that have been changed in the meantime. In order to protect the mentioned right and standardize court practice, the author gives guidelines for work on future cases. Considers that the court which evaluates the interference objection should consider the context of the case as a whole, take care that the limitation of one’s freedom of expression is too high socially necessary, that it is commensurate with a legitimate goal and that they are given for it relevant and sufficient reasons and considers it important to follow and properly apply recent court practice, especially the practice of the European Court of Human Rights.

Direct TOF Scanning LiDAR Sensor With Two-Step Multievent Histogramming TDC and Embedded Interference Filter

This article presents a 36-channel scanning light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor with an on-chip single-photon avalanche diode array. The sensor has an area-efficient 11-bit in situ histogramming time-to-digital converter with a 3000 ×78 μm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> per channel area based on a mixed-signal accumulator, though it is incorporated with histogramming and filtering capabilities. Furthermore, owing to its embedded interference (IF) filter, the sensor can perform reliable direct time-of-flight measurements even with IF from 32 different LiDAR sensors. The LiDAR system also has a beam scanner that comprises dual laser diodes for IF elimination and a hybrid mirror such that high-resolution images with a resolution of 2200 ×36 can be acquired with a wide field-of-view of 120 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">°</sup> ×8 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">°</sup> .

Modification of the second translation initiation site restricts the replication of foot-and-mouth disease virus in PK-15 cells

The translation initiation of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) occurs at two alternative initiation sites (Lab AUG and Lb AUG). Usually, the Lb AUG is more favorably used to initiate protein synthesis than the Lab AUG. To explore the effect of Lb AUG on FMDV replication and obtain FMDV with restricted replication, this initiation codon was mutated to a variety of non-AUG codons (UGG, AUC, CUG, and AAA). Fortunately, the modifications did not prevent viral viability but influenced replication characteristics of some FMDV mutants in a cell-specific manner, as was shown by the similar replication in BHK-21 cells and delayed growth kinetics in PK-15 cells. This attenuated phenotype of FMDV mutants in PK-15 cells was found to be correlated with reduced abilities to cleave eIF4GI and suppress interference (IFN) expression. As leader (L) protein was reported to be responsible for eIF4GI cleavage and inhibition of IFN expression, the in vivo L protein synthesis was examined during the infection of FMDV mutants. Our results showed that not only the total yield of L proteins was severely influenced but also the individual yield of L protein was seen to be affected, which implied that both the relative usage of the two initiation sites and overall translation efficiency were changed by Lb AUG modifications. In addition, the in vitro translation activity was also negatively regulated by Lb AUG mutations. Collectively, these findings suggested that the restricted replications of Lb AUG-modified FMDVs were related to the delayed eIF4GI cleavage and decreased ability to block IFN expression but were mainly determined by the inefficient translation initiation. FMDVs precisely with modifications of Lb AUG initiation codon may represent safer seed viruses for vaccine production.Key points• The polyprotein translation of FMDV initiates at two alternative initiation sites (Lab AUG and Lb AUG). In order to explore the effect of Lb AUG on FMDV replication and obtain FMDV with restricted replication, the Lb initiation AUG was mutated to a variety of non-AUG codons (UGG, AUC, CUG, and AAA), and four FMDV mutants with Lb AUG modification were generated.• We found that partial FMDV mutants grew almost as well as WT virus in BHK-21 cells, a typical cell line used for FMD vaccine production, but displayed impaired replication in IFN-competent PK-15 cells.• The attenuation of mutant FMDVs in PK-15 cells was found to be correlated with delayed eIF4GI cleavage and decreased ability to block IFN expression.• We proved that the attenuated phenotype of Lb AUG-modified FMDVs was mainly determined by the inefficient translation initiation, as demonstrated by the decrease of total yield of L proteins and individual production of L protein.• We successfully generated genetically engineered FMDV with attenuated phenotype. The approach of precise engineering of FMDV with the modification of initiation codon provides a safe platform to produce inactivated antigen vaccines.

Exercise-Induced Upregulation of M1 Excitability Following Motor Practice Does Not Predict Procedural Consolidation

A brief bout of moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise immediately after procedural learning can protect a newly acquired motor memory from interference. The present experiment examined the possibility that exercise after practice increases motor cortex (MCE) which has been argued to be a biomarker for procedural skill consolidation. PURPOSE: Examine if (a) offline gain in procedural skill is associated with elevated MCE following practice and (b) the MCE following practice can be modified via exercise. METHODS: 35 right handed young adults were assigned to an Interference (INT), Interference + Exercise (INT+EX), or a no interference, no exercise (NO) condition. All individuals practiced a target motor sequence and some (INT, INT+EXE) performed additional training with an alternative motor sequence 2-hr after practice with the target. The INT+EXE also included cardiovascular exercise the target sequence practice. Test performance of the target sequence occurred 6-hr after practice. MCE was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation prior to training and after training (every 3 min for a total of 11 post training assessments of MCE). RESULTS: One way ANOVA (Condition: INT, INT+EXE, NO) was used to analyze the mean response time for the target sequence offline learning effect and revealed a main effect of Condition F (1,32)=17.01, p<0.01.The extra practice in INT led to significant forgetting (-3±7ms) compared to the NO condition (NO, +21±7ms). Introducing exercise, despite the presence of interference, eliminated the forgetting observed for the INT condition (INT+EXE, 30±7ms). A 3 (Condition: INT, INT+EXE, NO) x 11(Time: 1-11) ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor conducted on the % change in the normalized CE failed to reveal any significant main or interaction effects (F’s < 1.0). CONCLUSION: The INT+EXE condition resulted in relatively greater increase in M1 excitability after practice compared to INT and NO conditions but this increase was not significant. Moreover, relative increase in M1 excitability did not predict the extent of procedural learning at the time of test. These data question the claim that an upregulation of excitability at M1 is a biomarker for procedural skill consolidation.

SUN-248 Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD): Assessing Burden of Treatment in Children and Adolescents

Background: Growth hormone deficiency treatment involves daily injections, which can be difficult to administer, incorporate into daily routines, and lead to poor treatment compliance. The Treatment Burden–Child Growth Hormone Deficiency (TB-CGHD) measure was developed according to FDA and EMA regulatory guidance to assess key aspects of GHD treatment burden experience in children. There are two versions of the measure: self-report (PRO) for children 9 to <13 years and observer-report (ObsRO) for parents/guardians of children 4 to <9 years. Items are based on qualitative interviews with 39 children and 34 parents of children with GHD. This study presents TB-CGHD validation study results. Methods: A non-interventional, multi-clinic-based study (US and UK) of pre-pubertal children diagnosed with GHD (treatment naïve [TN] or ongoing treatment) and parents/guardians of similar children was conducted. All subjects completed a baseline assessment battery in clinic, with in-person follow-up for the TN group. Psychometric analyses were conducted according to an a-priori statistical analysis plan to determine the measurement model, internal consistency, construct validity, test-retest reproducibility, sensitivity to change and minimally important difference (MID). Results: The analytic data set was comprised of 243 subjects (145 children and 98 parents/guardians). Children were on average 9.2 years, 72% male, with average child’s age at diagnosis 6.9 years. Post item reduction resulted in a 14-item measure. Factor analyses identified 3 domains (Physical (PHYS), Emotional Well-being (EWB), Interference (INT)). Internal consistency reliability was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha >0.70) as was test-retest for the Total, PHYS and EWB domains (ICC >0.70) and slightly lower than expected for INT (0.64). At least one of the convergent validity hypotheses for total and domains were significant. For known-groups validity, TB-CGHD discriminated between length of time to administer injections (p<0.01) and a trend showing scores differed by length of time on treatment. Improvements in scores at 12-week follow-up were shown for EWB and Overall domains (range: 3.6-14.3 points). Associated effect sizes (mean change divided by the baseline standard deviation) ranged from -0.27 to -0.57, indicating that the TB-CGHD is sensitive to change at low to moderate levels depending on domain. Triangulating (averaging various MID calculation methods) found the MID for the Total scores of PHYS and INT to be 6 points, and 9 for EWB. Conclusions: The final TB-CGHD was found to be reliable and valid and is considered ready for inclusion in clinical trials and clinical practice. Accurate and reliable assessment of treatment burden can help researchers and clinicians better assess and address impacts of treatment, factors that may affect compliance, and may improve the quality of doctor-patient communications.

Comparison of thickness determination methods for physical-vapor-deposited aluminum coatings in packaging applications

Methods used to determine the aluminum coating thickness on polymer films may not measure the geometrical thickness directly but may instead measure the mass or other properties, thus leading to different thickness values. Common methods include the determination of evaporation rates using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and the quantitative analysis of dissolved aluminum ions by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), which provide mass thickness values. Alternatively, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and interference (INT) across the step of a partially removed aluminum layer yield geometrical values, and optical density (OD) and electrical resistance (ER) measure other properties. We compared the ability of these methods to determine the thickness of aluminum coatings applied to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and paper by physical vapor deposition. We measured ER using four-point probes, five-point probes, and eddy currents. ER and OD achieved high precision but low accuracy, showing that the resistivity and absorption coefficients of thin aluminum layers can deviate from bulk constants. When the constant values were adjusted, both methods achieved higher accuracy. ICP-MS and QCM values were similar, when a geometrical model was applied, and in comparison AFM and INT showed low precision but high accuracy. When the aluminum was applied to paper instead of PET, only ICP-MS generated reliable results. In summary, the values derived using these different methods are only in agreement when method-specific constants such as absorption coefficients and resistivity are suitably modified.

Phantom PAINS: Problems with the Utility of Alerts for P an- A ssay IN terference Compound S

Phantom PAINS: Problems with the Utility of Alerts for P an- A ssay IN terference Compound S

Hyperhomocysteinaemia in rats is associated with erectile dysfunction by impairing endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity.

To investigate the effect of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHCy) on penile erectile function in a rat model, a methionine-rich diet was used in which erectile function, the reproductive system, and nitric oxide synthase were characterized. The intracavernous pressure, apomorphine experiments, measurement of oxidative stress, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions and measurement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity were utilized. Our results showed that erections in the middle-dose, high-dose, and interference (INF) groups were significantly lower than the control (P < 0.05). INF group, being fed with vitamins B and folic acid, demonstrated markedly improved penile erections compared with the middle-dose group (P < 0.05). HHCy-induced eNOS and phospho-eNOS protein expression was reduced and the antioxidant effect was markedly impaired. The data of the present data provide evidence that HHCy is a vascular risk factor for erectile dysfunction by impairing cavernosa endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity. Intake of vitamins B can alleviate this abnormality.

Degradation of poly-d-l-lactide (PDLLA) interference screws (Megafix®)

Interference screw fixation is a standard procedure in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) replacement. Aim of this study was to evaluate the degradation process of Poly-D-L-lactide (PDLLA) interference screws used for tibial ACL graft fixation. We evaluated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 18 patients who underwent ACL revision surgery at different time points after anatomic ACL reconstruction. At primary surgery, a tibial hybrid fixation was performed with a degradable interference (IF) screw made of PDLLA (Megafix(®)) and a button. MRI revealed three different phases of degradation of the PDLLA screw. 6-8 months after surgery the IF screw was clearly visible as a well-defined structure on MRI and CT scan. After 12-16 months, the screws appeared less defined with central ingrowths' of connective tissue. In some cases only fragmented screw material was visible. At these time points, there was a slight edema surrounding the tunnel visible on MRI. After 22 months and later, the mean screw site densities were comparable with the surrounding bone density. There was no edema or signs of inflammation around the bone tunnels visible. Presence of cystic or osteolytic changes was not detected. After 22 months, a PDLLA screw may not interfere with ACL revision surgery. Regarding the degradation process of PDLLA screws, we noted three different phases. Furthermore, the degradation process observed by MRI resembles to that described by animal studies. The PDLLA screws fully absorb and are partially replaced by bone. The degradation process in humans seems to be longer than that described in animals.

ACTIVE SELF INTERFERENCE CANCELLATION TECHNIQUES IN FULL DUPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - A SURVEY

In this paper we present a survey based on vast res earch done in the area of various important factors relating to full duplex communication revealing several facts. In fact thes e revelation has served to be vital in the future d esign of any full duplex communication system . The major problem or challen ge faced in such a system was the interference caus ed from the transmitting antenna on the receiver antenna placed at the same node. The interference was termed as ' self interfe rence'. Wireless transceivers nodes can select between transmit and receive funct ions on the same frequency band at different time ( Time Division Duplex-TDD) or they can transmit at the same time at different frequencies ( Frequency Division Duplex-FDD). Recen tly researchers have put forth a new radio system, that can operate full duplex ov er a single channel , that is transmitting and rec eiving at the same time on the same frequency band. This kind of system is overwhe lmed by interference. Interference need to be redu ced to the point where the receiver can detect even the weakest signal of inte rest. Several active interference cancellation tech niques that can help in self interference reduction have been proposed. The in d epth survey was helpful enough to come out with a n ovel solution to an antenna design based on passive suppression techniques usin g polarization and other diversity techniques so a s to reduce the self interference problem.

여성의 냉한 정도와 소화기능의 상관성에 관한 연구

ABSTRACT A Study on the Correlation of Cold Hypersensitivity and Digestive FunctionEun-Young Nam 1 , Jeong-Im Lee 2 , Gyeong-Mi Kim 3 , Hyung-Jun Kim 11 Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oriental Medical Hospital, Se-Myung University 2 Dept. of Internal Medicine, Oriental Medical Hospital, Se-Myung University 3 Dept. of Nursing, Se-Myung UniversityObjectives: Cold hypersensitivity has been regarded to be associated with digestive function. This study is aims to evaluate the correlation betwee n digestive function and coldness of hands. Methods: We made a research of 80 women who is in ○○ University. The patients were subjected to thermometer, and those with thermal difference between upper arm and palm were diagnosed with cold hypersensitivity. The patients were divided into two group by cold hypersensitivity group (n=20), and non-cold hypersensitivity group (n=19), and 39 women are mesured by Nepean dyspepsia index-Korean version (NDI-K) to evaluate the severity of functional dyspepsia. Results: There was no difference between two groups on age, height, wei ght. In functional dyspepsia symptom score, 6 symptoms (Pain in upper a bdomen, Burning in upper abdomen, Cramps in upper abdomen, Pressure in upper ab domen, Vomiting, Bad breath) out of 15 were significantly increased in cold hypersensitivity group compared with non-cold hypersensitivity group. And in quality of life score, 3 domains (Tension/sleep, Interfer ence with daily activities, Kno wledge/control) out of 5, and total quality of life score were significantly decrea sed in cold hypersensitivity group compared with non-cold hypersensitivity group. Conclusions: This study shows the correlation between cold hypersensitivity and digestive function. Key Words: Cold Hypersensitivity, Digestive Function, Functional Dyspepsia, Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean Version (NDI-K), Quality of Life

Mechanical stability of the femoral fixation for single‐ and double‐bundle ACL reconstruction in an in vitro experimental model

Anterior cruciate ligament ACL reconstruction using the double-bundle (DB) technique is gaining popularity. A possible weak link in the DB technique could be that two tendon grafts of smaller diameters are used. The purpose of this study was to test different femoral fixation methods and graft diameters representing single-bundle (SB) and DB ACL reconstructions and compare their biomechanical properties. We hypothesized that SB 6-mm graft constructs had inferior biomechanical properties than SB 9-mm grafts or DB 2 × 6-mm grafts. Furthermore, we hypothesized that interference (IF) screw fixation would demonstrate less elongation and a higher stiffness than Endobutton (Smith & Nephew®, Inc., Andover, Massachusetts, USA) fixation (EBF). We performed an in vitro study using porcine knees and extensor tendons. The mechanical test consisted of a cyclic test followed by a load-to-failure test. We found that 6-mm graft constructs had an ultimate failure load that was up to 40% less than both the 9-mm and 2 × 6-mm graft constructs, despite the fixation method (P-values ≥ 0.004). Comparing fixation methods, EBF was superior to IF concerning maximum load to failure (P < 0.001); IF resulted in a higher stiffness of the femur/graft complex than the EBF (P < 0.001) but no significant difference in elongation between fixation methods. Since the two graft strands are subjected to different loads in different knee flexion angles, the reduced strength of the individual graft strands in DB ACL reconstruction could be a concern.

Interference of remote magnetic catheter navigation and ablation with implanted devices for pacing and defibrillation

Remote magnetic catheter navigation (RMN) may facilitate catheter ablation. However, as the system uses permanent magnets, interference (INF) with devices for pacing [pacemaker (PM)], defibrillation [implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD)], or cardiac resynchronisation [cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)] may occur. We investigated the effects of the RMN system on implanted arrhythmia devices in a prospective series. Prior to RMN-guided electrophysiological procedures, devices were fully interrogated and programmed to VVI 40/min with tachycardia detection off (if applicable). Periprocedural device performance was monitored by 12-lead electrocardiogram, and duration and effect of asynchronous stimulation resulting from INF were evaluated. Following the procedure, devices were again interrogated and system integrity verified. A total of 21 procedures in 18 patients with implanted devices [PM n = 12, ICD n = 3, CRT-pacemaker (P) n = 1, CRT-defibrillation (D) n = 2] were evaluated. No relevant changes in lead parameters or device programming were observed after the procedure. No INF was noted in ICD/CRT-D devices (tachycardia detection off) and in 2 PMs, whereas 10 PMs and 1 CRT-P switched to asynchronous stimulation for 1.8 ± 0.3 h (63 ± 13% of RMN duration) without clinical adverse effects. In one patient, ventricular tachycardia (VT) degenerating in ventricular fibrillation occurred, but no causal relation between INF and VT initiation could be ascertained. This prospective data provide no evidence that using RMN in patients with implanted arrhythmia devices may cause persistent device dysfunction. Asynchronous PM stimulation is common without negative clinical consequences. Although a causal role of INF for the VT observed seems unlikely, risks and benefits of RMN utilization should carefully be weighed for each patient with an implanted arrhythmia device.

The effects of age and task demands on visual selective attention.

We investigated whether young and older adults differ on measures of interference (INT), negative priming (NP), and inhibition of return (IOR) on a spatial selective attention task that gradually increased in cognitive demand, from simple perceptual matching to letter identification. For both groups, INT increased and IOR decreased with task demand; while NP remained stable. We found age-related increases in INT, NP, and IOR, independent of task demand. However, only between-groups differences in IOR remained after correcting for age-related slowing in response times. Finally, we found no association between our measures of attention across groups, suggesting negligible overlap between INT, NP, and IOR. Our results indicate that attention is selectively and independently influenced by age and task demands, with both effects dependent on how attention is measured. These findings shed light on the "frontal hypothesis of aging."

Measurement of the direct emission and interference terms and search for CP violation in the decay K ±→π ± π 0 γ

We report on the measurement of the direct emission (DE) and interference (INT) terms of the K\pm -> \pi\pm\pi^0 g decay by the NA48/2 experiment at the CERN SPS. From the data collected during 2003 and 2004 about 600k such decay candidates have been selected. The relative amounts of DE and INT with respect to the internal bremsstrahlung (IB) contribution have been measured in the range 0<T*\pi<80 MeV: Frac_{DE} (0<T*\pi<80 MeV) = (3.32\pm 0.15_{stat} \pm 0.14_{sys})x10^{-2} Frac_{INT} (0<T*\pi<80 MeV) = (- 2.35\pm 0.35_{stat} \pm 0.39_{sys})x10^{-2}, where T*pi is the kinetic energy of the charged pion in the kaon rest frame. This is the first observation of an interference term in T*\pi decays. In addition, a limit on the CP violating asymmetry in the K^+ and K^- branching ratios for this channel has been determined to be less than 1.5x10^{-3} at 90% confidence level.

Use of Bombyx mori U6 promoter for inducing gene-silencing in silkworm cells

Double-stranded (ds) RNA is a useful tool for sequence-specific gene silencing, now known as RNA interfer ence (RNAi), in a variety of organisms. Studies on pol III promoter-based expression systems have been well documented showing them to be an effective tool for inducing RNAi in mammalian cells and Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cells, but not in silkworm cells. In this study, we developed a Bombyx mori U6 promoter (U6p)based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression system for inducing RNAi in silkworm cells. First, a transient reporter assay showed that the transfection of plasmids containing U6p-driven shRNA-expression units (U6-shRNA units) caused a decrease in the expression of the target gene in BmN cells with the efficacy dependent on the length of the hairpin stem region. Subsequently, we demonstrated the ability of the U6-shRNA unit to confer resistance to Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV)-resistance on BmN cells; i.e., the viral titer in the culture medium of BmN cells transfected with U6-shRNA (with the sequence of an essential viral gene)-expression plasmids was decreased to 30% of the control at 48 hr post-infection. These results suggested that the U6shRNA expression system was a useful tool for RNAi in silkworm cells.

A Distributed Agent-based Simulation Environment for Interference Detection and Resolution

In this paper, a two-level architecture is developed and implemented for the interactive simulation and evaluation of a distributed agent-based simulation environment designed to detect and resolve interfer ence in naval radar units. The Java-based simulation is designed as a two level software architecture incor porating: (i) multiple radars on each ship controlled through a lower-level intra-ship interference control module, and (ii) multiple ships in a group coordi nated through a higher-level interference control module. Each ship's interference detection and reso lution mechanism, termed a control agent, is com posed of these two separate levels, which dynamically coordinate to detect and then resolve interference problems using three different coordination strate gies—a Master-Slave, a Locally Autonomous and a simple Negotiation mode.

Synthesized interference color chart with personal computer

Interference colors provide one of fundamental criteria for identification of minerals in petrological studies. Therefore, it is important to have an interference color chart with reliable color reproduction and without degra dation. A computer program that pre cisely reproduces normal interference colors has been implemented (Fig.1). It synthesizes interference color charts from some standard illuminants using a colorimetric approach (Fig.2). Details of the program and the mean ings of the technical terms are described in Kato (2000). The interfer ence color chart synthesized from the CIE standard illuminant D55 corre sponding to the light from a halogen lamp through a blue CB filter is pre sented here for the petrological purpose(Fig.3)

Anesthetic Implications for Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators have become one of the preferred methods for treating many life- threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Many tens of thou sands of these devices have been implanted and this, together with the ease of worldwide travel, has made it more likely that anesthesiologists everywhere may come into contact with these patients either for elective or emergency surgery. These patients present unique anesthetic challenges because of the combination of the device and severe underlying cardiac disease. This article presents an overview of the implantable defibril lator as it affects the anesthesiologist, including device function, device assessment, electromagnetic interfer ence, and perioperative management.

New insights into the Stroop effect: a spatio-temporal analysis of electric brain activity.

Recent clinical and imaging studies suggest the involvement of anterior brain regions in the Stroop effect without providing consensus on the hemisphere being involved. Here, we investigated the dynamics of brain activation during a modified Stroop task using behavioural, event-related potential map series, and source localization analysis. Behavioural analysis showed an increased RT in the interference (IC) as compared to the neutral (NC) and congruence conditions (CC). Map series analysis in these conditions displayed a similar sequence of 10 stable segments. From these, only segment S6, occurring at approximately 300 ms and displaying a dominant right anterior activation, was of increased duration in IC. Furthermore, in IC only, RT was shown to correlate with S6 duration. These results are discussed in terms of increased duration of an attentional process needed to solve the conflict.